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South Africa: Ports remain open despite lockdown

Following official consultations, South Africa’s Department of Transport has announced relaxation of some of the strict restrictions on maritime sector activities brought in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly around the country’s ports.

In a new Marine Notice issued in Ptetoria on Tuesday, SAMSA announced the revised measures, which aim at alleviating pressure on particularly trade goods movement and handling, as well as personnel such as ships crews.

In particular, the Marine Notice...

https://safety4sea.com/south-africa-ports-remain-open-despite-lockdown/

ILO: Seafarers should be treated with dignity and respect amid COVID-19

In light of the challenging situations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a joint statement highlighting that seafarers should be exempted from travel restrictions and be treated as “key workers”.

Specifically, the joint statement launched by the Officers of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006)  also called on ILO member States to do all that they can to facilitate the delivery of essential medical...

https://safety4sea.com/ilo-seafarers-should-be-treated-with-dignity-and-respect-amid-covid-19/

Venezuelan patrol vessel sinks after collision with cruise vessel

The Government of Venezuela reported that the Venezuelan patrol vessel GC-23 Naiguata and the ice-class expedition cruise ship RCGS Resolute had an encounter, which resulted in the patrol vessel’s sinking.

The RCGS Resolute’s operator issued a statement informing that the cruise vessel was approached by an armed Venezuelan Navy vessel at a position about 13 nm off Isla de Tortuga. The cruise ship was drifting with Venezuelan Navy vessel at a position about 13 nm off Isla de Tortuga. Although the...

https://safety4sea.com/venezuelan-patrol-vessel-sinks-after-collision-with-cruise-vessel/

Train operator charged for derailing locomotive near USNS Mercy

A train engineer at the Port of Los Angeles was arrested on federal charges for allegedly running a locomotive at full speed off the end of rail tracks near the hospital ship USNS Mercy, Tuesday afternoon.

Eduardo Moreno, 44, of San Pedro, was charged today in a criminal complaint with one count of train wrecking, data by US Department of Justice reveals.

According to the criminal complaint filed in US District Court, Moreno admitted that he intentionally derailed and crashed the train near the...

https://safety4sea.com/train-operator-charged-for-derailing-locomotive-near-usns-mercy/

Traffic at Suez Canal unaffected by COVID-19

The Suez Canal Authority announced that the navigation traffic in the channel is regular and proceeds according to the normal rates of the numbers and tonnage of ships transiting the channel.

As Suez Canal added, traffic has not been yet affected by the repercussions of the emergence of COVID-19, since during the month of March 2020, navigation statistics recorded 1662 ships crossing from both directions in exchange for 1589 ships crossed during the month of March of last year.

This marks an...

https://safety4sea.com/traffic-at-suez-canal-unaffected-by-covid-19/

1 dead, 2 missing after tanker’s collision with fishing vessel

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, two fishermen reported to be missing after the collision of the fishing vessel “Pappy’s Pride” with the chemical tanker vessel “Bow Fortune”, close to the Galveston jetties in Galveston, Texas. Due to the collision, the fishing vessel capsized, while at the moment the Coast Guard is searching for the two lost fishermen.

On Tuesday 14 January, at 3:35 p.m., the Vessel Traffic Service in Houston-Galveston was informed that four people are in the water after the...

https://safety4sea.com/1-dead-2-missing-after-tankers-collision-with-fishing-vessel/

Digitalization and innovation in smart shipping

During the second SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Mr. Jerome Floury, Project Manager, Bureau Veritas Singapore, discussed cyber risks in smart and autonomous shipping, providing an overview of recent cyber-attacks in the maritime industry and the potential motives of hackers. He then shared the key pillars of a proper cyber resilience program and recommendations designed to help ships [and their managers and seafarers] maintain cyber resilience throughout their operational lives.

In qualifying cyber...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-digitalization-and-innovation-in-smart-shipping/

The situation of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia

During the last SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Mr. Masafumi Kuroki, Executive Director, ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), discusses about the maritime crime situation in Asia. As he says, ReCAAP ISC aims to accurately inform about maritime crimes in Asia, while noting that such incidents are declining. Nevertheless, there are still areas of concern in which the situation must improve.

Piracy and armed robberies are persistent and continuous maritime crimes, affecting the safe navigation of...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-the-situation-of-piracy-and-armed-robbery-against-ships-in-asia/

RNLI lifeboat rescues vessel dragged anchor off Oban bay

On 11 January, a coastal freighter anchored in Oban bay, Scotland requested help from the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Oban Station, as it was facing difficulties due to force winds. In light of the situation, Oban RNLI Lifeboat “Mora Edith MacDonald” was sent in the area to provide its assistance to the dragged vessel.

The 1,300 tonne coaster “CEG Galaxy” had dragged both of its anchors close to the shore of Kerrera and the busy north entrance of Oban bay facing windy conditions,...

https://safety4sea.com/rnli-lifeboat-rescues-vessel-dragged-anchor-off-oban-bay/

Ensuring excellence at sea at all times

During the first SAFETY4SEA Forum in Manila, Vadm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, President, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, provided insight into efficient ways to attract the younger generation in the industry and key challenges that we need to address for the development of competent graduates who shall possess the character, knowledge, and skills necessary for the successful pursuit of a maritime career.

When you start teaching and developing safety, the way forward is to get the young...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-ensuring-excellence-at-sea-at-all-times/

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